CONFLUENCE - River Aire, River Calder - Castleford, UK - River Origins, Destinations and Confluences on Waymarking.com

The River Aire is the longer river of the two. It is 71 miles (114 kilometres) long and flows from Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to Airmyn where it joins the River Ouse.

Malham Tarn is at an elevation of 377 metres (1,237 feet) and it meets the Rive Ouse at an elevation of 5 metres (16 feet).

The River Calder is 45 miles (72 kilometres) long and flows from Heald Moor above the Town of Todmorden to this spot at Castleford.

Heald Moor is at an elevation of 400 metres (1,312 feet), and at this point has an elevation of 36 metres (118 ft).

Both rivers were used for transporting goods locally, but various weirs and low water levels made long distance transport difficult. During the 18th Century both rivers were canalised with artificial channels cut to bypass various weirs and shallow parts of the river. Although the arrival of railways and modern roads greatly reduced the volume of goods transported the rivers and canals do still carry some goods and both are popular with leisure boaters.

Most of the canal sections on both rivers are known as the Aire and Calder Navigation except the sections on the River Calder that lie to the west of the town of Wakefield. There they are known as the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

The confluence of the rivers is very close to one of the canal stretches on the River Aire which starts almost opposite the confluence.

The rivers and canals in this area are regarded as important leisure facilities and there are paths along most stretches of the rivers and canals used by both pedestrians and cyclists. However at this point where the rivers join the bridges are fairly widely spaced, and it's not easy to access all the river banks without a long walk.

The River Aire passes to the North of the town of Castleford and the A6032 runs parallel to it. The best way to get the this waymark is to use the new pedestrian footbridge erected in 2008 off the A6032 where it is known as Aire Street and turn left along the north bank of the River Aire and then cross the Aire and Calder Navigation at the lock. Alternatively cross the River Aire using Lock Lane and then join the North bank of the Aire and Calder Navigation at the point Barnsdale Road crosses it.

Parking Coordinates: Not listed Trailhead Coordinates: Not listed Relevant Web Site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
1. Describe your journey and visit.
2. Date of your visit.
3. At least one original photo (DO NOT include either you or your GPSr).

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.